The Dangers of Benzodiazepine Use in the Elderly - a podcast by D E Foster

More senior citizens take benzos than any other age group. And yet, they are also the group most at-risk for complications. What are the effects of this dangerous combination? And what can be done to buck the overprescribing trend?In today’s episode, we look at the stats, the warnings, and the consequences of benzodiazepine and Z-drug use in the elderly. We also shine the spotlight on the website benzo.org.uk, share a story from Grand Junction, Colorado, and discuss anti-depressants and sleepless nights.















Welcome to Episode #15It's Senior Week at Benzo Free, and today our feature is dedicated to that very subject. The elderly are the most at-risk for complications from benzodiazepines and Z-drugs, and yet they have the highest use rates. What are the complications of this trend and what can be done to reverse it? We also take a look at an amazing website on benzodiazepine history and research, benzo.org.uk, and share a story and answer a few questions.



But first, let's list the resources used in this episode, and then we'll dive deeper into the content of episode 15.



Episode ResourcesThe following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein.



INTRODUCTION"The Lost Years: A Father, A Son, Benzos, and Aging"by D E Foster



BENZO NEWS"Benzos added to fentanyl causing hard-to-revive overdose problems"by Karen Graham in Digital Journal"Benzodiazepines intake may increase miscarriage risk"by Medha Baranwal in Speciality Medical Dialogues"'Hello, It's Me:'Loneliness in Benzo Withdrawal"by D E Foster in Benzo Free"The world's happiest people have a beautifully simple way to tackle loneliness"by Jenny Anderson in QZ.comPodcast Episode #14 —"Finding Faith, Hope, and Acceptance in Benzo Withdrawal: A Conversation with Jennifer Leigh, PsyD""My Fifth-Year Anniversary"by Holly Hardman on As Prescribed Blog"7 Effective Thought-Stopping Techniques for Anxiety"by Melissa Stanger on Thrive Global"Anxiety'epidemic'brewing on college campuses, researchers find"by Will Kane on Berkeley News



BENZO SPOTLIGHTBenzo.org.ukFEATURE: Benzos and the Elderly “American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.”Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual) by C. Heather Ashton"Benzodiazepine Use and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: Case-Control Study."BMJ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prescribing Guidelines for Pennsylvania: Safe Prescribing Benzodiazepines for Acute Treatment of Anxiety&Insomnia. “Physicians'perspectives on prescribing benzodiazepines for older adults: a qualitative study.” Journal of General Internal MedicineBenzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal by D E Foster“Yes, Benzos Are Bad for You” by Dr. Frances Allen"Factors Associated With Long-term Benzodiazepine Use Among Older Adults."JAMA Intern Med.“No End in Sight: Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults in the United States.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society “Benzodiazepine Use in the United States.” JAMA Psychiatry"The Benzodiazepine–Dementia Disorders Link: Current State of Knowledge."CNS Drugs"Risk of Death Associated with New Benzodiazepine Use Among Persons with Alzheimer's Disease — a Matched Cohort Study."International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry“Benzodiazepine Dependence and Withdrawal in Elderly Patients.” The American Journal of Psychiatry“The New Old Age: A Quiet Drug Problem Among the Elderly.” by Paul Span in The New York Times. “Once prescribed, 25% of elderly become dependent on benzodiazepines: JAMA.” by Hina Zahid in Speciality Medical Dialogues.



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